The Misericordia University football team used a stingy defense and some big plays in the passing game to record its fifth straight win, 28-7, over FDU-Florham, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
Owen Norman set a school record with 6.5 sacks and
Malachi Sadler had two interceptions, including a pick-six. Norman's sack total is the single-game high in D-III in the nation this season.
Ronnie Borden threw for three touchdowns and
Jordan Alston had seven catches for 167 yards, including two scores.
Patrick Garlinghouse added a touchdown reception.
The Cougars held the Devils to just 220 yards of total offense, including -19 yards on the ground.
After a sluggish start which resulted in a scoreless first quarter, the Cougars scored on the first play of the second quarter when Borden hit Alston in stride down the right sideline for a 43-yard touchdown.
The score held until late in the second quarter when the MU defense provided points.
Sadler stepped in front of a pass and raced 50 yards down the left sideline to make it 14-0 with 3:13 to go before halftime.
The Cougars used the deep ball again to go up 21-0 midway through the third quarter.
After taking over on downs at the FDU-Florham, Alston used a double-move down the right sideline to haul in a 38-yard strike to the set up first-and-goal at the five.
Three plays later, Borden used play action to hit a wide-open Garlinghouse on the right side of the end zone with 6:17 left in the period.
MU took over at their own nine-yard line after forcing an FDU-Florham to set up its longest drive of the day.
Borden hits
Jassan Whittaker over the middle for 16 yards over the middle to convert a third-and-10 to the 25.
Angelo Fluri went up the middle for 12 yards and later used a second-effort to pick up another first down at the 48.
Borden hit Alston down the left seam on the next play for a 52-yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead with 14:52 to play.
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